Royal China (Raffles Sentosa)

Royal China is the Cantonese restaurant at Raffles Sentosa Singapore, an all-villa resort set into a wooded hillside on Sentosa island. Chef Ling Heng Yao leads the kitchen. He cooks classic Cantonese food with small modern touches, but he is careful to keep the flavours clearly Cantonese.

Chef Ling grew up helping his parents in teahouses and later trained in Hong Kong kitchens. The restaurant describes its range as running from the classic to the avant-garde. In practice, that means dim sum and double-boiled soups sit next to more playful plates.

What to order

The restaurant names a few signature dishes. Together they give a good idea of the kitchen's style:

• Chilled Fresh Bean Curd Skin with Ikura and Mala Soy Sauce: a cold starter of soft bean curd skin with salmon roe and a numbing, spicy soy.
• Oven-roasted Peking Duck with Condiments: Tatler Asia notes that the condiments include rock melon.
• Braised Inaniwa Noodles with Lobster and Golden Broth: thin Japanese wheat noodles served with lobster.

Tatler Asia also points to stir-fried scallop with foie gras. At weekends the restaurant has offered a dim sum set lunch. Vegetarian dishes are available, so meat-free diners are not left out.

The setting

Tall windows run from floor to ceiling, so diners look straight out onto the resort's gardens. It is a calm room, well suited to a long lunch. Tatler Asia notes that diners are brought to the restaurant on the resort's buggy service.

There are two private rooms, the Royal Room and the Alstonia Room. They suit family dinners and groups who want their own space. Wine drinkers will find a good choice by the glass, with some wines poured from magnums or through a Coravin system.

Good to know before you go

• Bookings: the restaurant recommends booking ahead for both lunch and dinner. You can reserve online, by phone or by email.
• Dietary needs: vegetarian options are on the menu. Mention any other needs when you book.
• Special menus: the kitchen runs seasonal menus and pairing dinners from time to time, so ask what is on.

Menus and booking details are on the official Royal China page.

Nearby

Royal China sits inside Raffles Sentosa Singapore, so it is an easy choice during a resort stay. The same resort is home to IYASAKA by Hashida, a Japanese omakase counter. For more Cantonese cooking on the island, try Cassia at Capella Singapore or TungLok Heen at Resorts World Sentosa.

Make a day of it with time on Palawan Beach or a visit to Fort Siloso. You can also browse more restaurants on Sentosa or our list of Chinese and dim sum restaurants.